Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time

[Tabitha Chase]

@'Barnabas Skeeter'

Tabitha wasn't usually a fan of such busy events. She felt like she had stuck out like a sore thumb more than any other time of year. When a large number of individuals packed the usually desolate streets at this time of night, it was always something to take notice. Sometimes it was just the nerve of people thinking that they were able to just take the streets whenever they wanted. Tabby was not impressed with the festivities this year.

But she was thankful to have the night off to ring in the new year in Hogsmeade. Sometimes it was fun to just people watch. She admitted that watching people ice skate was one of the most interesting experiences of her life. People slipping and sliding and losing their balance was part of the fun. Lurking behind the crowd to just catch glimpses, the sixteen year old let an audible giggle escape every once and a while whenever anyone had to grasp the side of the rink to prevent falling.

She slipped away a little bit and she crossed her arms. She was judging people hardcore. "People are so silly this time of year," she said aloud examining the crowd, wondering if anyone heard her. "What is it about the new year celebrations that make people go crazy?"

  

[Declan Wood]

Declan attended the new year festivities every year with his sisters. Now that they were all getting older, they spread out more often that not. The streets of Hogsmeade were no strangers to the Wood children. As he happened to pass by the ice-skating arena, his attention was caught by a girl who was probably one of the prettiest ones he'd seen as of late - her attractiveness was also increased by the fact that by her dress, she clearly belonged to the lower class.

He managed to slip near her casually, and passed by at the opportune moment to overhear her.

"The hopes that their life will be differen' this year, I suppose," He gave her a pessimistic look as he drew up alongside her, "Or maybe the desperation that the year is endin' and they've done nothin' with it."

  

[Tabitha Chase]

The scene of everyone who could afford their own skates and could participate in the tomfoolery going on in the rink with raucous laughter reaching Tabitha's vantage point only made the girl jealous. The cards she were dealt with her own and she had made due. But the addition of another voice near her, remarking on what she had said threw her off guard. "Well," Tabby said, glancing over to the source of the voice, a young man with a rather pessimistic look, "ain't that a realist point o' view."

The change in the vernacular was intentional. Tabitha could only imitate what she heard above stairs so much before it was no longer who she was. She crossed her arms and kept a rather neutral expression (though she hoped it was neutral and not resting bitch!face). "Working under stairs shows that a lot of people don' care 'bout anythin' but showin' off. An' that's what they're doin' over there. Showin' off."

  

[Declan Wood]

Declan shrugged. His view may have been seen as realist, but her's was certainly far more on the pessimistic spectrum. "Eh, for some, it's all they know how ta do." He didn't blame the wealthy for the way that they behaved. Hell, if he had been in their position he would've done just the same. Everyone was dealt their own cards. He couldn't judge them for it. Granted, he was likely biased since he worked for the Etheriums. They did not treat their servants like most did. He was very fortunate - and grateful.

"Declan Wood," He flashed her a lopsided smirk, "What house do ya work in?"

  

[Tabitha Chase]

Tabitha nodded solemnly. The boy had a point, and Tabitha had conceded the fact. Nothing was going to change how the lower class lived over night, and Tabitha just had to be patient. She looked him dead in the eye when he introduced himself. He flashed a smirk and Tabitha couldn't help but flash one back. "Tabitha Chase," she replied. "An' I work for a family that ain't anybody but folk who want to be somebody."

She shrugged and looked back at the crowd. "I mean, they treat me well enough, but sometimes it ain't worth it. 'N fact they're prolly down there skating."

  

[Declan Wood]

Declan mirrored her, giving a shrug of his own, "It's gotta be better than not havin' anywhere to work at all." If she worked for a well-to-do family, it was likely that she lived in the servants' quarters rather than in a shack in the slums. He'd lived in both, which had given him some perspective. He hadn't thought of himself as optimistic, but compared to her outlook, he certainly seemed to be. His mother would have been proud.

"D'ya wanna give it a go?" He flashed a grin and motioned toward the skating rink. He'd never actually gone skating before, but with a pretty (albeit jaded) girl by his side, what was there to worry about? If he was lucky, she would never have skated before either. They could hold hands and cling together to try to keep from falling on the ice. It sounded like a hell of a good time.